For many, the beginning of a new year is a time of renewal, reflection, and committing to making a difference in the world. Local nonprofit, The Park People, makes it easy to keep these resolutions with their Denver Digs Trees program. Each year, through this program, they provide free and low-cost trees to Denver residents. The entire city and county of Denver is eligible to apply for trees, and people may request as many trees as they have space for. By participating in this unique program, tree recipients can support Denver’s urban forest while improving air and water quality, beautifying neighborhoods, and much more. Applications are available Jan. 1-Feb. 15, 2018. The tree distribution and sale is on Earth Day weekend, April 21 and 22, 2018.

Additionally, The Park People and the Office of the Denver City Forester are working together to lessen the negative impact on Denver’s tree canopy by the impending Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. The Denver Digs Trees program is the only program offering free and low-cost trees for planting both in the public right-of-way and on private property, enabling residents to be a part of the solution.

“It’s estimated that 333,000 Denver trees will be lost to Emerald Ash Borer, and that 90 percent are located on private property. That’s 300,000 Ash trees on privately-owned spaces,” says Kim Yuan-Farrell, executive director of The Park People. “That will be a huge loss that impacts us all, because private trees offer millions of dollars in community-wide benefits like reducing flooding, moderating summer temperatures, and removing air pollution from the atmosphere. So we’re proud that our Denver Digs Trees program helps meet a critical need for affordable private property trees in addition to what the program and the City’s planting efforts provide for public lands.”

Yard trees are just $10 for those who live in the targeted Denver neighborhoods, which were selected based on their low tree coverage, and $35 for homeowners in the remaining areas of the city. All street trees are free. Treeships (free trees) also are available for those who are experiencing financial hardship. Tree delivery/planting support is offered for those who need assistance. The typical retail cost of a tree is approximately $125, making Denver Digs Trees an affordable, easy way for residents to contribute to the health and beauty of their yards and the entire city.

For more information on Emerald Ash Borer, visit the City of Denver’s Be a Smart Ash site, www.BeASmartAsh.org.

In addition to Denver Digs Trees, The Park People offers Community Forester classes for people interested in leading tree planting and care activities, and local businesses can get involved through the Mile High Tree Champions program, a tree planting experience for small and large employee groups. To get more information about how to support Denver’s parks and trees through one of these programs, visit www.TheParkPeople.org.

The Park People is dedicated to preserving, enhancing and advocating for Denver’s parks, recreation resources, open space, and urban forest. Through the Denver Digs Trees program, The Park People has added more than 50,000 trees to Denver’s skyline over the past 27 years.